Chemical Engineer with Software Engineer work experience TN1 visa

K

kid8

New Member
Hello,

I am new here and I was hoping that I could some help. I am a Canadian Citizen living in Canada and I have a bachelors in chemical engineering from an accredited Canadian university. I also have a masters in chemical engineering from an accredited Canadian university. Since finishing my schooling, I have worked as a software engineer in Canada and have about 5 years of experience in this field (software engineering). I am interviewing with companies in the US for software engineering roles hoping that once I get a job, I will apply for a TN1 visa.

Given my background, can anyone here guide me on what my TN1 application process would look like? I understand that my education must be closely related to the job title/description if I want to apply through the Engineer category. Is chemical engineering considered "close" enough? If not, what about CSA? Can I go down that route since I have experience in the IT field to back it up?

Can someone please shed some light on this?

Thank you.
 
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Chemical engineerins IS engineering, so the job you are seeking should be an engineering job, likely using your chemical background. Experience doesn't count for an Engineering TN, so your previous work doesn't really count towards getting the TN (it of course will be useful in getting the job offer), so make sure any software job you get relies heavily in your engineering skills, not IT.
 
Thank you, @nelsona. Does this mean that CSA is out of question for me because both my degrees specifically state chemical engineer?
If so, my only option would be to go down the Engineering route. Now if I go down this route, would the offer letter have to heavily rely on engineering skills such as: "designing efficient systems", "maintaining and managing distributed systems"?

Do I still have a chance at getting a TN1 under the Engineer category? Additionally, if the job title is System Engineer rather than Software Engineer, would that help?
 
Of course you have a chance to get TN under engineering -- if your job duties are that of an engineer.
 
Okay so then is it correct to assume that I should apply under the Engineering umbrella and NOT CSA? My only fear in this case is that the job description for chemical engineering and software engineering under OOH guidelines is different and since my education is in chemical, they might reject me. But do you think that if the job responsibility is broad enough to fit under the general engineering spectrum I can make a strong case? I suppose working with a lawyer for such a case might be helpful, right?
 
As I said, because of your education, your job should be a chemical engineering job, not IT. Every profession uses and develops software for its own purposes, using principles from that domain. Your job should follow that. It was fine to work outside your profession in canada, but for TN, you need to stay in your education lane.
 
Thank you for your input. So then that means that if the position is that of a "Software Engineer", my TN1 would get declined, is that right?
 
It's not the "position" that gets declined, it is the job description: "Kid8 is being hired as a software engineer, developing applications and solutions for the chemical industry." would work.

Find the job with that in mind, worry about the TN later.
 
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